Sports Extra

MARANA, Ariz. – The snow is gone from the Match Play Championship, and so are Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

In a stunning conclusion to what already is a bizarre week on Dove Mountain, Shane Lowry of Ireland made a 4-foot par putt on the 18th hole to eliminate Rory McIlroy in the opening round of golf’s most unpredictable tournament.

It was the third time in the last four years the No. 1 seed went home after one round. McIlroy also is ranked No. 1 in the world.

Moments later, Charles Howell III finished off a fabulous round in cold conditions by defeating Woods on the 17th hole. Howell, who had not faced Woods in match play since losing to him in the third round of the 1996 U.S. Amateur, played bogey-free on a course that still had patches of snow and ice after being cleared Thursday morning.

The final matches were played in near darkness.

The opening round was halted Wednesday after 3½ hours because of a freak snowstorm that covered Dove Mountain with nearly 2 inches. It continued to snow at times overnight, and it took nearly five hours to clear snow from the golf course for the tournament to resume.

College Football

CSU football adds some NFL experience to its staff

FORT COLLINS – Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain is adding NFL experience to his staff.

McElwain said Wednesday that Art Valero will coach the Rams’ tight ends next season. Valero most recently was an assistant offensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans in 2011.

The Coloradoan reported Valero is filling an opening on the staff that was created when quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach Billy Napier left to become the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida State.

McElwain said offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin now will add the title of quarterbacks coach, and linebackers coach Tim Skipper will get an added title of assistant head coach.

Cycling

For first time in 116 years, Irish medal at track worlds

MINSK, Belarus – Martyn Irvine has made history for Ireland by winning its first men’s medals at the world track cycling championships in 116 years.

Irvine won the silver in the individual pursuit to defending champion Michael Hepburn of Australia, then within an hour won the scratch race.

In a rematch of last year’s Olympics and world finals in the women’s team pursuit, Britain beat Australia for gold. Canada won the bronze.

Wai Sze Lee of Hong Kong earned her first world title in the 500-meter time trial, while Germany edged New Zealand by 0.049 seconds to win the men’s team sprint.

Giro d’Italia will start 2014 in Northern Ireland

MILAN – The 2014 Giro race will begin in Northern Ireland and Ireland, marking the 11th start outside of Italy.

Giro organizers said the three-week race will start May 10 in Belfast and pass through Dublin and Armagh on May 11 and 12, respectively.

The 2013 Giro will run from May 4 to May 26, beginning in Naples and ending in Brescia, Italy.

The Tour de France announced in December the first three stages will be held in England in 2014.

Ski Racing

After poor start to season, Swiss firing their coach

BERN, Switzerland – Switzerland’s men’s skiing coach Osi Inglin will lose his job at the end of the season because of the team’s poor results.

Swiss Ski President Urs Lehmann said “the situation and the circumstances demand a fresh start and a new look” in a statement by the national ski federation.

The Swiss men, already amid a dismal World Cup season, failed to win a medal at the World Championships this month at Schladming, Austria.